The Billionaire’s Regret -Alessa (by Bukolami) novel Chapter 15

**Shadows Beneath the Silent Moon**
**Rising Echoes by Aiden R. Vale**
**Chapter 15**

“Mum.”

“Mum.”

Alessa was jolted from her reverie by the soft, familiar sound of her son’s voice. She turned her head to see him framed in the doorway of the dining room, his small figure barely illuminated by the dim light.

“Hey there,” she greeted, her lips curving into a warm smile that she hoped would chase away the shadows of her earlier thoughts.

He shuffled towards her, his feet dragging against the floor, and rubbed his sleepy eyes with tiny fists. She instinctively scooped him up and settled him on her lap, feeling the warmth of his small body against hers. He let out a big yawn, and Alessa couldn’t help but giggle at the adorable sight.

“If you’re so sleepy, why aren’t you tucked in bed?” she asked gently, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. It was the middle of the night, just moments after they had returned from the extravagant ball. Alessa had managed to lull her children to sleep, but her own mind was a whirlwind, refusing to settle into the calm she craved.

“I just woke up. I couldn’t find you in your room,” he replied, his voice still thick with sleep.

Alessa wrapped her arms around him, feeling his head rest against her chest, and she sighed softly, wishing she could shield him from the world’s complexities.

“Mum.”

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

“Why did that man act like that at the party? He wouldn’t let you go, and he made the reporters follow us.”

Alessa’s heart sank at the memory. “It’s nothing, Aiden. Just forget about it,” she said, trying to keep her tone light, but she could see the flicker of understanding in his eyes.

Aiden hesitated, sensing his mother’s reluctance to delve into the topic. He was growing up, old enough to recognize when a conversation was unwelcome.

“Okay,” he murmured, letting out a heavy sigh before closing his eyes, surrendering once more to sleep.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Bryan sat at the table, staring blankly at his breakfast. His mind was a turbulent sea of thoughts, each wave crashing against the next. All he wanted was to talk to Alessa, to unravel the tangled web of questions that had formed in his mind.

How had she managed to survive while carrying twins?

How had she transformed her life from begging on the streets to becoming a wealthy woman?

“Billionaire’s ex-wife returns after six years with twins, and he can’t take his eyes off her. Is the billionaire having regrets?” a voice chimed in, breaking his concentration.

Startled, Bryan looked up to find his wife standing beside him, her expression a mixture of curiosity and concern.

As always, Lydia was impeccably dressed, her elegance undeniable, yet in his heart, he couldn’t help but compare her to Alessa. ‘Why am I even thinking about that?’ he chastised himself internally.

“Bryan,” she called, her voice slicing through the air.

“Huh?” he responded, trying to shake off the weight of his thoughts.

“Billionaire’s ex-wife returns after six years…”

“I heard you the first time,” he interrupted, his tone sharper than he intended.

“Good. Care to explain what the hell happened?” she asked, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

Bryan’s gaze swept over her, noting that she had returned early from her trip, which was supposed to last until the weekend.

“Why are you here?” he asked, a hint of irritation creeping into his voice.

“This isn’t enough reason to be here?” she shot back, holding her phone out for him to see.

Bryan’s heart sank as he looked at the pictures the reporters had captured the previous night—images of him and Alessa that spoke volumes.

“It’s nothing,” he replied, trying to sound dismissive.

“It doesn’t look like nothing. Just one night without me, and you’re running back to your ex-wife like a lost puppy,” Lydia retorted, her voice rising with anger.

“That’s not how it is,” Bryan said wearily, pushing back his chair and rising to leave the dining room. But Lydia was quick to follow, her frustration boiling over.

“It is exactly what it looks like. Why did you have to embarrass me this way? Do you know how many calls I’ve received from people this morning? Did you really have to do that to me?” Lydia’s voice cracked, her emotions spilling forth like a broken dam.

Bryan turned to face her, seeing the glimmer of tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

“Come on, Lydia,” he said softly, stepping closer and wrapping his arms around her waist, hoping to offer some comfort.

“Why did you humiliate me? Do you love Alessa now? Do you?” she pressed, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her cheeks.

“What? No, of course not,” Bryan replied, his heart aching at the thought.

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” he murmured, pulling her into a tighter embrace, feeling her body shudder against him.

Lydia sniffed, her tension slowly ebbing away as she relaxed in his arms.

Bryan gently ran his fingers through her hair, trying to soothe her. He loved Lydia; that much was undeniable. He would do anything to protect her heart, and the last thing he wanted was to hurt her.

**SIX YEARS AGO**
**Chapter 16**

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